Donation drive will brighten Windber's Christmas

Vandals may have tried to dim the spirit of Christmas in Windber's Miners Park last year.

But they were unsuccessful and this year organizers hope the lights will twinkle even more brightly with a little hometown help.

"The lights were never off," said Jerry Ledney, vice chairman of the Windber Area Visioning Experience and chairman of the Miners Park display. WAVE is the borough's Main Street Manager program.

And though the lights were repaired for last year, there are not enough and some are a safety concern because of the damage done to them last season.

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That's why WAVE is asking residents for their help.

It is asking for a box of white outdoor lights or an outdoor extension cord, labeled with the donor's name.

"There are almost 5,000 people that live in Windber. That would be a lot of lights," Ledney said with a smile.

"We're going to make it classy looking."

A box has been placed inside the borough building to collect the lights.

"If we don't get the donations we have to find a way to purchase these," said Ledney.

He said lighting Miners Park and bringing the holiday spirit there is important.

"It's the heart of the town."

Grasping the small town charm, fire barrels will be available to warm hands and toes. While carolers sing in the nearby gazebo during the Christmas season at times.

"Just to keep a little of the Christmas season going through the whole month," Ledney said.

But now is the time to start putting plans in motion.

"We're going to try to make it a real hometown Christmas and we have to get started now," Windber Mayor Art Palumbo said.

Decorating will start the third weekend of October to prepare for Light up Night on Nov. 28.

"Christmas is in a big time swing down here already," Ledney said. Wave also has plans underway for another display at Windber's Recreation Park, where the Windber Winter Wonderland is held. That display benefits the American Cancer Society.

"It is a group of people who do this. A large group of people that work very hard."

But for now a focus is on the park which Palumbo said is a good way to bring people together downtown.

"We thought we were very successful last year and what to make it bigger and better this year."

Ledney said the light drive is just one step toward the future of the event.

"We want to make this much bigger in the years to come… We just need to take out time and grow and do it the right way."

Donations will make it possible for WAVE to create a bigger event now instead of later.

"We don't have much money in the bank since we're a new organization," Ledney said. "We need to get establish ourselves so we need the community to get involved."